11/11/21 Academic Affairs Brief
Faculty & Academic Staff Weekly Updates
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
Last day to withdraw from a course w/o Penalty - Nov. 12
Last day to withdraw from the College - Nov. 12
Deadline to submit incomplete grades - Dec. 8
Last day to receive a medical withdrawal from the College - Dec. 10
This Brief Includes:
COVID-19 Update
Benefits Open Enrollment Closes Nov. 12
Fantastic Faculty Tips for Student Success!
Spring Canvas Shells Are Available
Social Impact And Law: Reproductive Rights, From TX to VT
Indigenous Peoples Week: Nov 15 - 19
New Devices for Checkout at the Library
REMINDERS: So Good, It's Worth Repeating!
COVID-19 UPDATE
The College continues to monitor the outbreak at St. Michael’s college carefully. A message about the Thanksgiving holiday, travel and testing requirements upon return will be sent to students next week.
WHAT'S NEW*S
BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT CLOSES 11/12
Open Enrollment ends Friday, Nov. 12! For enrolling early, a big congratulations to Cory Davis, Director of Community Standards, who won a Garmin Forerunner 35 watch! If you are a benefits-eligible employee, now is your opportunity to enroll in and make changes to your benefit elections via self-service in Oracle HCM effective Jan. 1, 2022. Take an active role in Open Enrollment by logging in to Oracle and confirming or changing your elections. Don't worry if you missed the live informational sessions. Click this link to listen to a pre-recorded Open Enrollment Benefits Informational Video at a time that works for you! The 2022 Benefits Guide Book is available on the People Center’s Benefits website. In addition, this site is where you will find specific benefit plan information such as Summaries of Benefits and Coverage, links to pre-recorded benefit videos, and helpful flyers regarding individual benefits. Questions? The Benefits Team is here to support you! Email benefits@gmhec.org.
FANTASTIC FACULTY TIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS!
Good ideas from YOU! Check out these Strategies for Student Success that were generated by faculty, for faculty who found them to be extremely helpful in pacing their students during their pandemic, semester-long marathons.
SPRING CANVAS SHELLS ARE AVAILABLE
Faculty, please know that when you are ready to start planning for Spring 2022, your Canvas course shells are now available! In addition, please take advantage of the Center for Learning & Teaching (CLT) resources and guides to support you in getting your course(s) ready. The CLT Team can save you time by providing helpful steps for:
importing content from previous courses
providing you with templates to serve as a starting point for course design
offering best practices for implementing engaging, student-centered learning experiences
If you would like to import a past Canvas course into your new shell, we recommend this video tutorial. If you are teaching multiple sections of a course, you may choose to join them into a single Canvas course shell. See the Joining Course Sections FAQ for more information about the pros and cons of this. Requests for joining courses must be received no later than the Wednesday before the start of the semester. Please complete the “Join courses” form to submit your request.
SOCIAL IMPACT & LAW: REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FROM TX TO VT
How at risk are reproductive rights in this country? This important question is explored as part of the Social Impact Scholars Intersections Series Fall 2021 on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. During this virtual session, panelists will discuss their own reactions to Texas Senate Bill 8, followed by suggestions for next steps and a Q&A with the audience. Featured panelists:
Jill Krowinski - Vermont Speaker of the House
Tony Perriello - Professor of Law, Champlain College
Lucy Lariche - VP of Public Policy, Planned Parenthood of New England
Reverend Deneen Robinson - Program Director at the Afiya Center in Dallas, Texas. (The Afiya Center is the only Reproductive Justice organization in North Texas founded and directed by Black women.)
Barbara Rachelson, Vermont Representative for our local ward
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89763135200
Meeting ID: 897 6313 5200 Passcode: 685699
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WEEK SPEAKERS
The Champlain community is invited to a week of Indigenous Peoples Week events planned by Valerie Esposito's Environmental Justice class and sponsored by the Student Experience Grant. The events will take place the week of Nov. 15, with speakers/presentations in Alumni Auditorium in the mornings and hands-on activities in the afternoons in Fireside Lounge.
Mon 11/15 - Vera Sheehan - will speak on Indigenous Waterways, show a recent documentary that she made and lead an activity on making fishing nets from 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium.
Tue 11/16 - Chief Don Stevens - 10 a.m. -11:30 a.m. keynote about Indigenous Culture, History and Vermont policy. Don is an alumni of Champlain and is an excellent storyteller.
Thu 11/18 - Melody Brook Walker - 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Storytelling Presentation - the 7 Generations - and will potentially lead an activity in the afternoon. Melody is a former Champlain employee.
NEW DEVICES FOR CHECKOUT AT THE LIBRARY
REMINDERS - So Good, It's Worth Repeating!
ADVISE YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT WITHDRAWALS
The last day students can withdraw from courses with a grade of W is Friday, Nov. 12. This is also the last day a student can withdraw from the College. The course withdrawal form can be found here and shared with students.
PLAN AHEAD FOR THE IDEA STUDENT RATINGS
The survey period for the IDEA Student Ratings of Instruction in 15-week courses this semester is Wednesday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Dec. 3. Be sure to schedule 20 minutes of class time during this period to give your students the opportunity to complete the survey. See these guidelines for planning ahead.
FINALS WEEK SCHEDULE
Finals week is Dec. 13-17 and classes will be assigned 3-hour blocks for finals. A PDF schedule by course and by instructor can be found online for downloading.
CLT PRESENTS HIGH-NOTE SEMESTER SESSION
The Center for Learning and Teaching extends an invitation to expand your academic portfolio with this end-of-semester professional development opportunity:
Building Class Community: Wrapping Up on a High Note and Preparing for Next Semester - Wednesday, Dec. 1, 12:30 p.m. MIC Vista Room
The CLT continues to offer previously-announced regular weekly events such as Peda-GO-gy walks every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. and the Faculty Writing Group Wednesdays, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
T.E.A.C.H. IN 90 SECONDS
We invite you to check out TEACH, a snack-size profile of Champlain's Technology, Engagement And Creative Heroes who in 90 seconds share REALLY COOL tips and tools that make learning and teaching more technology rich, engaging, and creative. All faculty and staff are invited to TEACH in 90 seconds by contributing 90 seconds of content (text, video, slide decks, web links, etc) directly to Caroline Toy. Submitters will win a Perky Planet gift certificate! Beware that you may receive a special invitation to share your tips and tools if word gets out that you are a hero!
FALL ACADEMIC CALENDAR DATES
11/12 - Last Day to Withdraw from a class
11/24 - 11/26 - Thanksgiving Break
12/13 - 12/17 - Finals Week
12/20 - 1/16 - Winter Break